Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;kiko&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Kiko’, which when grown as a disbud is characterized by large inflorescences, about 19 cm in diameter, with elongated quilled pink ray-florets, with response time of 56 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Kiko’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a 8 week response and a medium plant height (1 m.). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Kiko’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #98.0106—unpatented—, an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The male parent is unknown, being a mixed population of a group of male parents. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2001. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Kiko’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2001 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing spectacularly large blooms with elongated quilled pink ray-florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 56 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. When slightly damaged during harvest, the ray florets have proven to be sensitive to botrytis. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces large sized inflorescences with elongated quilled pink ray-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Kiko’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 4 and week 32 under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Kiko’ is ‘Dance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,941). When ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed. Both ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are typically grown as disbud varieties, producing large sized blooms with elongated quilled ray florets. The differences of ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are (1) Size inflorescence. The size of the bloom of ‘Dance’ is smaller than that of ‘Kiko’ (2) Length ray floret. The ray florets of ‘Dance’ are shorter in length than those of ‘Kiko’. (3) Color ray florets. The ray florets of ‘Dance’ are purple colored, while those of ‘Kiko’ are pink.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Kiko’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘Kiko’ Bud Size Large, cross-section 1.5 cm height 1.5 cm Outside color Yellow-green 145A Involucral bracts 3 rows, length 1 cm, width 1.5 cm Involucral bracts among disc-florets Not present Involucral bracts color Green 138B Inflorescences Type Double Height 5 cm Size Large Fully expanded 19 cm Number per stem 1 (typically grown as disbud) Performance on the plant 3 weeks Seeds Seed production not observed Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slight Peduncle length 3 cm Peduncle color Green 138C Color Center of the flower Immature Yellow-green 150D Mature Yellow-green 144D Color of the ray-florets Upper surface Red-purple 65B Lower surface Red-purple 65B Tonality from Distance A disbudded mum with pink flowers and a cream disc Color of the upper surface of the Red-purple 65B ray-florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 200 Shape Elongated quilled Longitudinal axis of majority Straight to incurving Length of corolla tube 8 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 9 cm Ray-floret width 0.2 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Incurved Disc florets Disc diameter 1 cm Distribution of disc florets Few, only visible at mature stages of flowering. Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 154D Receptacle shape Domed raised Reproductive Organs Stamen Present in disc florets only Stamen color Yellow-green 144 B Pollen Produced in small quantities Pollen color Yellow 7A Styles Present in both ray and disc florets Style color Yellow 13A Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 145 D Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in perianth Plant Form A disbudded mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Medium vigor Height 1 m Width 30 cm Internode lenght 2.5-3 cm Spray formation Not formed when grown as disbud Stem Color Yellow-green 148C Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin coloration Absent Flowering Response (photo- 56 days periodic controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color immature stage Upper side Yellow-green 147B Under side Yellow-green 148C Color mature stage Upper side Yellow-green 147A Under side Yellow-green 148B Color midvein mature leaf Upper side Green 138C Under side Green 139C Size Large; length 15-17 cm, width 7-9 cm Quantity (number per single stem) 30 Shape Cordiform Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Dentate Shape of Base of Sinus Between Acute Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Converging Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole Length 1.5-3 cm Petiole Color Green 138C

TABLE 2 Differences of ‘Kiko’ with comparison variety ‘Dance’ ‘Kiko’ ‘Dance’ Size inflorescence 19 cm 13.5 cm Length ray florets  9 cm   7 cm Color ray florets Red-purple 65B Purple 77B to 77C 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 